At a Glance

Since John Winthrop’s 1630 sermon, proclaiming Boston as the city upon which the “eyes of the people” would be trained, this New England beacon of equality and democracy has delivered on his high expectations. Wind through this historic city on the Freedom Trail, tracing the steps and stories of the American Revolution and eventual autonomy to Faneuil Hall. Learn about more recent history that identifies the city and revel in the arts, visiting cultural treasures and attending the Museum of Fine Arts that holds pieces of work reflecting Boston’s most notable residents, events and world-recognized character.

Activity Level

Keep the Pace

Walking up to two miles per day, some uneven surfaces. Must be able to climb stairs as there is extensive use of public transportation for field trips.

Best of all, you'll ...

Learn about and experience the city's vast musical, cultural and artistic offerings at a performance.

Take a study cruise to explore the Boston waterways that define this city’s history.

Discover the artistic masterpieces on display with a docent at the Museum of Fine Arts.

General Notes

Public transportation used on this program.

Suggested Reading List

View 5 books

John Singer Sargent

by Carter Ratcliff

The Week the World Stood Still: Inside the Secret Cuban Missile Crisis

by Sheldon Stern

The Athens of America 1825-1845

by Thomas H. O'Connor

Averting the Final Failure: John F. Kennedy and the Secret Cuban Missle Crisis Meetings

by Sheldon Stern

Boston Firsts: 40 Feats of Innovation and Invention that Happened First in Boston and Helped Make America Great

Afternoon: Program Registration: After you have your room assignment, come over to the Road Scholar table to register with the program staff and get your welcome packet containing your name-tag, up-to-date schedule that reflects any last-minute changes, and other important information. If your arrival is delayed, please ask for your packet when you check in. Orientation: The Group Leader will greet everyone with a warm welcome and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule and any changes, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures including contact numbers for key staff, and answer any questions you may have. We will be using the MBTA, Boston’s public transportation system of subways and trolleys, for several field trips. Not all stations have elevators/escalators and some require walking up/down flights of stairs. Scheduled free time is reserved for your personal independent exploration. Please be aware that program activities, schedules, and personnel may need to change due to local circumstances. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.

Dinner: At a nearby restaurant, enjoy a welcome dinner.

Evening: At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.

DAY

2

City Overview, Charlestown Navy Yard, Performance

Boston

B,L,D

Sheraton Boston Hotel

Activity note: Travel by motor coach for part of the day; ascending and descending motor coach steps. There may be walking up and down hills and on cobblestones. You will be using the inner harbor ferry. Must be able to embark and disembark onto the ferry. You will be walking and standing up to 2 miles throughout the course of the day.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: We’ll board a motorcoach with a local historian and make our way through town to learn about Boston's revolutionary past, its exceptional contributions to American history and culture, and its transformation into the modern yet charming and historical place it is today. Encounter fascinating neighborhoods in this “city upon a hill.” We’ll conclude at the Charlestown Navy Yard.

Lunch: In the Charlestown Navy Yard, we’ll have lunch at a local restaurant.

Afternoon: For our next field trip, we will explore the Charlestown Navy Yard and learn about Boston's maritime history. The Navy Yard is home to the USS Constitution — “Old Ironsides” — the world's oldest commissioned warship afloat. It’s now undergoing a massive restoration, something that happens only once every twenty years! The Navy Yard is part of the larger Boston National Historical Park and a key stop on Boston's famous Freedom Trail. We’ll then return to the hotel by ferry.

Dinner: At a local restaurant.

Evening: Performance. Enjoy a performance chosen from Boston's eclectic array of live shows. Due to performance schedules and release dates, specific information will be provided closer to the start date. Date and time of performance is subject to change.

DAY

3

JFK, Old South Meeting House, Old North Church

Boston

B,L,D

Sheraton Boston Hotel

Activity note: Use of MBTA; walking up to 2 miles throughout the day including up/down hills, streets and sidewalks including bricks and cobblestones; standing up to 2 hours at a time.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: With a local expert, we’ll take a walking field trip through Boston to learn about John F. Kennedy and his legacy here. We’ll also walk to selected sites the Freedom Trail, a pathway marked with a line of red brick or red paint leading to the city's most historic landmarks. We’ll then walk to the Old South Meeting House to revisit that historic, snowy night in December 1773 when the Sons of Liberty gathered here before heading to Boston Harbor and dumping tea into the harbor in protest against taxes instituted by the Crown.

Lunch: At a restaurant near the waterfront.

Afternoon: Next, we’ll have an expert-led, behind-the-scenes look at the Old North Church: “One if by land, two if by sea.” If you like, you can climb all the way to the top of the steeple and learn about the ringing of the bells. We’ll then go beneath the Church to explore the crypt. We’ll return to the hotel with time to relax and freshen up before dinner.

Dinner: At a local restaurant.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY

4

Boston Harbor Cruise, Free Time

Boston

B,L

Sheraton Boston Hotel

Activity note: Use of MBTA; getting on/off a cruise vessel.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: After walking to the waterfront, we’ll board a boat for a fully narrated historic sights cruise around Boston Harbor. Learn about Boston's connection to the sea as you sail past the nation's oldest continuously manned lighthouse, the Harbor Islands National Park Area, and Boston's working port. Many Revolutionary era landmarks can be seen along the route as well, while the narrator will share their stories on-board. Returning to land, we’ll walk to historic Faneuil Hall. (If you want to sound like a native and not a tourist, Faneuil rhymes with flannel, not annual.)

Lunch: At a Faneuil Hall restaurant.

Afternoon: Free Time. Take this opportunity for personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

Dinner: This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY

5

Museum of Fine Arts, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

Boston

B,L,D

Sheraton Boston Hotel

Activity note: Use of MBTA; walking and standing at the museum up to 2 hours at a time.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: We'll be joined at the hotel by an expert on many art forms with a focus on the collections at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts (MFA). Hop on the T and head to the MFA where we will be led through by the same expert who spoke at the hotel. One of the world's most comprehensive art museums, the original MFA opened on July 7, 1876. Its extraordinary collection today numbers nearly half a million works of art organized into art of the Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa and Oceania, the Ancient World, contemporary art, photography, prints and drawings, musical instruments, textile and fashion arts, and jewelry.

Lunch: At the MFA's Courtyard Café.

Afternoon: You’ll have some time for personal independent exploration through the MFA's galleries after lunch to see what interests you most. Then, with the group head over to the nearby Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Founded by its namesake in 1903, the museum is home to the art patron's extensive and visionary collection of art. A uniquely designed museum, Gardner aimed to evoke an intimate environment to experience the important artistic works of the time by displaying a mixture of paintings, furniture, textiles, sculptures and objects from various culture and time amongst more well-known European paintings and sculptures.

Dinner: We will regroup at the hotel and head to a local restaurant for our farewell dinner. Share your favorite experiences with new Road Scholar friends.

Evening: At leisure. Prepare for departure following our concluding activity in the morning.

DAY

6

Trinity Church, Program Concludes

Boston

B,L

Activity note: Use of MBTA; walking up to 2 miles throughout the day including up/down hills, streets and sidewalks including bricks and cobblestones; standing up to 2 hours at a time. Hotel check out is by 12:00 Noon.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: We’ll walk a few blocks to historic Trinity Church in Copley Square for an expert led exploration. Trinity has been described as “a cultural event of the first importance in American history.” Designed by H. H. Richardson in a style known as Richardsonian Romanesque, it was constructed from 1872-77. It was a dramatic departure from Boston’s Puritan heritage and signaled the rise of a distinctively American creativity. There were substantial challenges in building this massively magnificent edifice because the land that created the Back Bay had been rescued from tidal marshland. To support the immense weight — the tower alone weighs 90 million pounds! — thousands of cedar piles were sunk into the water table below. The colorfully decorated interior features stained glass and murals by LaFarge.

Lunch: The Group Leader will walk us back to the hotel, then to a local restaurant where we’ll have meal vouchers provided. This concludes our program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Please join our Facebook page and share photos of your program. Visit us at www.facebook.com/rsadventures. Best wishes for all your journeys!

Meals

14 Meals

5 Breakfasts

5 Lunches

4 Dinners

The following choices may be available when requested in advance: Vegetarian, Gluten Free, Low Fat, Low Salt

Lodging

Lodgings may differ by date. Select a date to see the lodgings specific to that date.

Located just four miles from Boston Logan International Airport, Sheraton Boston Hotel puts you in the heart of the city. Enjoy indoor access to shopping and restaurants at The Shops at Prudential Center and Copley Place or one of our Boston Back Bay restaurants. Stroll just a few blocks to Copley Square, the Charles River, the Museum of Fine Arts or Fenway Park.

My name on my name tag was misspelled by the Road Scholar office, not by our guide. This is our third Road Scholar trip. Don't you think it is time to spell my name correctly? It is three separste names with no hyphen.